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Speakers​​

Irene Guerinot has a Master’s in Environmental Engineering and Physics, both from UTK.

Currently, she is a Senior Lecturer and her area of expertise is Physics. She is passionate about everything she does. "When I like something, when I believe in something … it is ALWAYS passionately … apathy is my opposite." Guerinot also values family, science, running, hiking, kayaking, social justice, environmental justice, reading, and gardening. 

Guerinot is originally from Greece and has constantly been told that she rolls her Rs.

Guerinot TEDxMaryvillle College speech topic will concentrate on “being a survivor of domestic violence” but will blend that experience with all her identities (being a mother, immigrant, educator, and daughter). Guerinot will discuss what can help keep us moving forward when everything around us fails, how we can draw strength in order to face the next day, and how we can handle our mistakes and poor choices.

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IRENE GUERINOT
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Brandon Bruce has an MBA, JD., and is currently an entrepreneur and adventurer. Bruce enjoys adventuring outside and launching new projects.

Fun Fact: Bruce graduated first (or second) in a class of two in elementary school.

Bruce TEDxMaryvillle College speech topic is entitled "Bears & Bicycles".

Brandon Bruce

Rick Hill got his degree from Troy State University (BS in Computer Science).

Hill is currently a retired FBI Agent and Security Professional with 34 years of experience in conducting and managing domestic and international counterterrorism, intelligence, criminal enterprise investigations, and security operations. Hill is the Owner of A&A Investigations and Consulting Group, where he provides Security Threat Assessments for Businesses, Nonprofits, and the U.S. Government. 

Hill is an avid sports fan and enjoys golfing and watching the Georgia Bulldogs college football team.  Fun Fact: Hill has traveled twice around the world by air. 

Hill's TEDxMaryvillle College topic will be focused on Teamwork and Security in our integrated society.

As an investigator, speaker, and trainer, Hill will provide the fundamental tools to understand the risk posed by our greatest security threats. Also, Hill will share how to develop and implement security programs to protect your most valued assets, personnel, information, and facilities.

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rICK hILL

Patrick Sullivan's accomplished educational background includes an Associate's degree of Science in Electronic Technology, A.S. in Information Technology, Bachelor's Degree in Science in Network Security and Forensics, Master's of Science in Cybersecurity and Assurance, and a PhD in Information Technology with a concentration in Cybersecurity.

Sullivan's current role focuses on customer success in the 3rd Party cybersecurity assessment company, Vertical. He works with larger, complex multinational enterprises, seeking to develop a long-term cybersecurity compliance/governance strategy. 

 

Sullivan had the unique opportunity to watch multicultural and multinational teams communicate, deal with conflict, and make critical decisions. His purpose is to serve by helping others reach their full potential.  

 

Fun Fact: He enjoys powerlifting and is close to reaching his deadlifting goal of 600 lbs. 

Sullivan's TEDxMaryvillle College speech topic is entitled "Overcoming power distance to create the futures that we most want. "

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Patrick Sullivan 

Emily Huffstetler is a Maryville College junior pursuing a triple major in Writing Communication, Spanish, and Design, and is earning her Certified Nonprofit Professional credential.

Huffstetler is the founder and CEO of Build for Bees (@buildforbees), a Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to protect bee populations through education and habitat restoration.

Her passions revolve around environmental justice, language, and visual arts.

A fun fact about  Emily is that she has taste-tested future menu items at the Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, California.


Huffstetler's TEDxMaryville College topic is "The Interdependence of Bees, Flowers, and Humankind."

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EMILY Huffstetler

 Juliana Hauser has a Ph.D. in Counseling Education from The College of William and Mary. Hauser has spent decades counseling and supporting thousands of individuals and partners on their paths to discovering their sexual agency, relationship intimacy, and fulfilling sexual connection.

Hauser has worked as a Gender Studies and Counseling Education professor, a clinical director of a university counseling center, and operated a halfway house for women in addiction recovery.  Hauser worked with male college athletes and fraternities, educating them on consent, sexual agency, and sexual violence prevention.

Fun Facts: Dr. Hauser was named the "Lifestyle Expert" for Tempur Pedic beds, where she also served on the company's Sleep Council. Hauser is the official "sex expert" for CamPOWERment, an online camp and education platform for adults. Hauser was the therapist-at-large for The Broadway Collective and is a featured sex educator for the German sex education platform, Beducated. She is also the creator of REVEALED, a 10-week course that provides an action-driven method to help individuals of all backgrounds discover their own power through sexual agency. Additionally, Hauser leads an international interview series entitled, "Man Made: Conversations with Good Men", which highlights men who are making a positive difference in their families, community, and world. 

Dr. Hauser's TEDxMaryville College speech topic is "Agency: The Noun, Verb, Concept, and Skill." She takes a new and important look at how the various aspects of agency support relationship and community building, across various and vast intersections.

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JUliana hauser

Michael McMillan is an Executive Chairman of United Bridge Healthcare, CEO of ProximoCX, and CEO of Bizprints, as well as an Advisory Board Member of ArenaCX. McMillan is a second-generation call center outsourcing owner recovering software developer, and a major fan of endurance sports, especially triathlons and long-distance swimming. Michael enjoys international travel with his family and any activity that will get the blood pumping! 

 

Fun Fact: In 2002, he weighed in at just over 420 pounds. A year later, he crossed the finish line of the Chicago Triathlon at 310 pounds. Today he hovers between 205 and 220 pounds and has completed numerous long and short-distance triathlons, multiple full and half marathons, century(100 miles in one day) bike challenges, and more 10k's and 5k's than he can count.

 

McMillan's TEDxMaryville College speech topic will be "Reflection of Actions and Habits"

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Michael MCMillan 

Saray Taylor-Roman has a background education that includes M.S. in Educational Technology from Full Sail University in 2010 and a B.A. International Studies + K12 Education Maryville College, 2008. Taylor's current role is Portrait Photography + Business Coaching . Saray is passionate about helping others follow joy and experience wholesome freedom in their career path.

 

Fun Fact: Saray graduated high school at 15 years old.

Taylor- Roman's TEDxMaryville College speech topic will be "KNOW BE DO," which is related to the self and how knowing who we are and acting in alignment with that identity leads to wholesome freedom. The joy of carving your path and the freedom that comes from it.

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Saray Taylor-Roman 

Howard Kerr has an education in Nuclear Engineering from UT, Knoxville. Kerr, a former Senior Research Engineer, has been retired from Oak Ridge National Lab since 2001. His expertise includes nuclear reactors, weapons systems design and safety, non-proliferation programs, and medical isotope production. Since 2001 Kerr has devoted a lot of time and effort to developing international exchange programs and helping protect our honeybees and the Tennessee beekeeping industry.

His passion evolves beekeeping, supporting youth programs, like Kiwanis, Boys & Girls Club, and Scouts.

Fun Fact:  During 2000 - 2018, Howard Kerr hosted about 4000 international university students in Tennessee through the US-DOS Summer Work and Travel cultural exchange program.

 

Kerr's TEDxMaryville College topic: "Life Experiences Provide Unexpected Opportunities to Recognize and Understand our Real Inter-dependence."

Howard Kerr
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